Process of making a composite oil gas having approximately the characteristics of natural gas



Patented Sept. 19, 1950 \enoonss OF MAKING A oom-osrrn on.

GAS HAVING APPROXIMATELY -'rr m onAaAc'rnaIs'ncs or NATURAL GAS Hugh M.Blain, Jr., New Orleans, La asslgnor to The Gas Machinery Company,Cleveland, Ohio, v

a corporation of Ohio Application January 7, 1947, Serial N6. 120,592

'7 Claims.

I The invention relates to processes of making a composite oil gashaving approximately the characteristics of natural gas, The oil gasmanufactured by the instant improved processesis a reformed oil gas andits field of use includes its use as a substitute for natural gas or theblending thereof with a natural gas supply to take care of peak loads ofa gas system without the necessity of readj-usting burner appliancesthat have been adjusted for the satisfactory consumption of natural gas.The process is designed to be worked in converted solid fuel firedstandard 1 carburetted water gas apparatus, or in new apparatus ofsimilar design, having generator, carburetor, and superheater shells.carburetted water gas apparatus can be converted by slight structuralchanges or additions to render it suitable for making the oil gastherein.

This application is a continuation in part of my pending application onMethods of Making Oil Gas, Serial No. 435,457, filed March 20, 1942,

'now abandoned. This pending application Serial No. 435,457 disclosesand claims two improved processes of making a composite oil gas, one, byusing the generator and carburetor in series operation, and, two, byusing the generator and carburetor in parallel operation. Thiscontinuing application is directed to the parallel operation disclosedin said application Serial No.

By developing the process so it can be worked in standard carburettedwater gas apparatus, there is already at hand in most gas-generatingplants suitable equipment for working the process, 5

with minor changes in such standard equipment, and the reconstructedcarburetor of such standard equipment can serve as an additionalgenerator and be worked in multiple with the standard reconstructedgenerator and thus there can be produced in one gas set a volume ofcomposite reformed oil gas approximating double the volume that would beproduced by using the set with a single generator.

The characteristics of natural gas which are approximated by thecomposite reformed oil gas produced by the instant improved process areits B. t. u. heating value, specific gravity, and its burning, i. e.,the gas produced by the present improvements has a B. t. u. heatingvalue of approximately 1000, and will burn in appliances set for theburning of natural gas without the production of an untoward amount ofyellow flame which would indicate too high an illuminant content and aB. t. u. heating value too large for a burner adjusted for natural gas,and also without untoward flashing back in the mixers which The standard15 would indicate an undue percent of hydrogen content, and a B. t. u.heating value too low for a burner adjusted for natural gas. In otherwords, in shifting from the use of natural gas in burners adjusted forsatisfactory use of the latter to the use of the composite reformedoilgas, it would not be necessary for the burners properly adjusted fornatura1 gas to be readjusted in order for the composite reformed 0111gas to be satisfactorily burned therein.

The oil gas made by the improved instant process is well fixed andstable, loses only a small amount of its thermal value on cooling,compression and distribution, and presents no lampblack troubles.

The range of temperatures utilized in the present improved processes issuch as to control the respective percentages of illuminants andhydrogen so as to produce a composite reformed oil 20 gas having asuitable B. t. u. heating value. In

fact, the temperatures utilized are fairly critical for producing theproper ratio between. the slowburning constituents of the composite oilgas,

such as the illuminants, methane and ethane, and 25 the fast-burningconstituents, such as hydrogen and carbon monoxide.

Incidental advantages of the improved process, in addition to theproduction of a superior composite reformed oil gas having substantiallythe characteristics of natural gas, are the following:

1. An increase in the quantity and quality of the by-product, tar,produced;

2. An increase in the quantity of the makerun production in a method ofthe cycle tyipe utilized for the manufacturing of a composite reformedoil'gas;

3. Elimination of the smoke commonly met with in the blast portion ofthe gas making cycle employed in producing oil gases; and

4. Elimination of the following equipment and labor necessary forheating solid fuel fired gas making sets, by reason of the use of oilrequiring only an oil pump for supplying the fuel for heating theapparatus and producing the reformed oil gas:

The railroad'track hopper for dumpingsolid fuel 1] bin and weighing andcharging it into the solid fuel fired generators; The ash handling anddisposal equipment; and

The labor for handling solid fuel, charging the generators wiith thesame, clinkering the generator fires, and handling the ashes.

pence. w

- In the use of the standard three shell set for manufacturingcarburetted water gas, I employ for the practiceof my improved processan openwork checkered layer of rectangular bricks spaced far enoughapart so that they could not possibly screen out any carbon, if thelatter were formed.

This is a radical departure from the present day methods in use whichdepend upon the use of a thick compact layer of small ceramic particlessometimes called a carbon filtering screen. By the use of large units,such as bricks, for the heating elements, I am enabled to maintain theheating faces at uniform temperatures since they store up acomparatively large quantity of latent heat and, since they are regularrectangular figures, they provide a comparatively small proportion ofradiating surface whereby the temperaof the standard set act as twingenerators, the two shells 50 and 60 performing alike and in parallel.Thus, the set has a gas-making capacity approximately double that whichit would have if the chambers of the three shells 56, 60, and III tureof radiation will be maintained at the de- The annexed drawing and thefollowing description set forth in detail certain reconstructedcarburetted water gas apparatus illustrating means in which my improvedprocess can be practiced and certain steps by which the same may becarried out, such steps constituting only a few of the various series ofsteps by which the improved process may be worked.

In said annexed drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevation, in part in cross section, of a standard threeshell carburetted water gas set slightly reconstructed so as to serve tocarry out the instant improved process; and

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the respective periods oftime that may be utilized in performing the respective operationsconstituting a whole cycle of operations.

Referring to the annexed drawing, what was a standard solid fuel firedcarburetted water gas set is shown in converted condition serviceablefor practicing the instant improved process, and has a convertedgenerator 50, a converted carburetor 60, and the superheater 10. The topof the generator 50- is connected directly to the top of the carburetor60 by a duct 80, and the bottom of the carburetor 60 is connecteddirectly to the bottom of the superheater 10 by a duct 59 Hereinafter,when the generator 50 and the carburetor 60 are referred to, thereference will be to these respective shells converted as shown. In theuse of this standard converted carburetted water gas set to practice thepresent improved process of v making reformed oil gas, the duct 80 isclosed off by any suitable means, such as a brick A duct 59 is providedwhich leads partition 8|. from the bottom of the generator 50 to thebottom of the carburetor 60, so thatthereby there is formed a duct 5959which passes through the bottom of the carburetor chamber, and-thusextends from the bottom of the generator chamber to the bottom of thesuperheater chamber, and serves to convey both combustion products andmake-gas from the respective bottoms of the generator 50 and thecarburetor 60 to the bottom of the superheater III. The resulting effectof the flow of these products would be substantially the same if thebottom of the generator 50 were directly connected by the duct 59 to thebottom of the superheater 10 without the duct 59 communicating with thestandard duct 59 through the carburetor 60, but this modification of astandard carburetted water-gas set might or might not be as convenient,satisfactory, and economical as the one shown in the annexed drawing.

were connected in series with the generator 60 a solid fuel-firedheating unit for heating the chambers of carburetors 60 and superheater10, as per former practice.

The generator is provided with'layers of closely spaced oil crackingrectangular checker-' These checkerbricks 5| are in close bricks 5|.overlapping position so as toprovide a maximum number of heat passagesto give a maximum area of heat surface for the gas to contact. Byoverlapping the cracking checkerbricks 5| a large amount, the crackingbrick structure forms a unified porous mass. Since this cracking brickstructure is unified, its temperature throughout its volume will remainsubstantially constant, bringing about a uniform effect upon the gaseousproducts being transformed into oil gas.

The carburetor 60 is supplied with layers of closely spaced oil crackingrectangular checkerbrick 62 which serve the same purpose as the oilcracking checkerbrick 5| in the generator 50.

Ample mixing spaces 82 and 83, respectively, are provided in thegenerator 50 and the carburetor 60 above the checkerwork structurestherein to permit proper burning of the heating oil and thorough mixingof the make steam and make oil admitted thereto in the mannerhereinafter fully described.

Thermocouples 52 are introducd through the side walls of the generator50 and the carburetor 60 into theoil-cracking checkerbrick area, and atother places in the gas set, as indicated in the annexed drawing, or asmay be required, to permit a constant check of the temperaturesthroughout the gas set.

In the structure shown in the accompanying drawing, a controlledgenerator supply pipe 53 for the make-gas oil, a controlled generatorburner pipe 54 for the heating oil, and a controlled generator pipe 55for the make-steam, all communicate with the generator 50 through thetop thereof, and all of them extend through a generator branch airintake pipe 56 which is under controlof a generator air valve 51 and ahand-set butterfly valve 51 The branch air intake pipe 56 receivesitsair from a main air pipe 58 which also serves the carburetor 60through the branch air pipe 56 controlled by the valve 6| and a handse'tbutterfly valve 6 I. A controlled burner steam l pipe 54 communicateswith the oilburner pipe Ill! 54, and a controlled steam purge pipe 63com-' municates with the make-gas oil pipe 63.

A controlled pipe 63 for make-steam, and a controlled pipe 64 formake-gas oil are both introduced through the top ofthe carburetor 60.

A controlled burner pipe 65 for heat oil is introduced through the topof the carburetor 60 in the path of the air supply from the branchconduit 56 for the carburetor 60. A controlled pipe 66 for burner steamcommunicates with the oil burnsprays. feeding the generator andcarburetor is a matter of convenience, availability of burner,

pipe, and spray designs, etc., and may necessarily, or from thestandpoint of convenience, assume different forms than the one shown inthe accompanying drawing, and just described. For instance, it hasalready been ascertained, as a matter of convenience for installationand/or opera- "'tion, and as amatter of availability of suitabledesigns, that the make-oil sprays may be used in multiple and feedingthrough the cone top of the generator and carburetor shells,' and water:

I cooled, if desirablejwith the heat-oil burner pipesextended throughthe generator top nozzles.

The superheater is provided with closely and carburetor spaced layers'of rectangular checkerbrick II in which a complete evaporation intogasof all oil particles that are carried over into the superheater Ill iseffected and in which the oil gases produced by the cracking of the oilin the twingenerators 50 and 50 are completely reformed and-blended. Thesuperheater 1'0 terminates at its upper end in a stack 12 provided witha control seal pot 18 and a drain pipe 19. These elements12-13-74-15-46-11-18-19 are all parts of a standard carburetted watergas set.

Supporting arches 5|, 62 and H are provided for supporting thecheckerwork structures 51, 62, and I I, of the generator 50,.thecarburetor 60, and the superheater 10, respectively.

In working theimproved methods of making a composite reformed oil gas,the blast or heating part of the cycle is carried out by simultaneousburning operations by means of the burner pipes 54 and 65 and the branchair pipes 58 and 56 downwardly from the tops of the generator 50and thecarburetor 60, entirely therethrough and out therefrom through the duct59-59 Burner steam is simultaneously admitted through the pipes 54 and85 to the tops of the generator 50 and the carburetor 60, respectively.The com-,- bined products of combustion from the generator 50 and thecarburetor 60 are conducted upwardly through the superheater 10 and outthrough the openstack 12. By this heating, the checkerworks in thetwin-generators 5n and 60 are heated totemperatures sufilcient to crackoil into gas, which temperatures are from about 1500 F. to 1800 F.,

depending upon the grade .of make-oil which is to be cracked and therate at which it is to be fed. The checkerwork in the superheater Ill israised to from about 1450 to 1650 E, which temperature will evaporateoil particles carried over,

and blend and reform the gases generated from menced by introducingsteam to the tops of the twin -generators 50 and through the pipes 55continued .until the temperature of the twingenerators 50 and 60 fall's;depending upon the grade of make-oil, to about'lgoo to 1600 degrees.The'temperature of the bottom of the superheater falls somewhat'less andthe temperature of the top of the superheater remains fairly constant.

When the. temperatures of the shells have fallen, as described,themake-run part of the cycle, as also, the whole cycle, iscompleted bysteam and air purges effected by shutting off the make-oil from thepipes 53 and 64, and effecting a short steam purge and cleaning themake-oil sprays through purge steam pipes 53 and 64 This is followed byshutting of the purge steam from the pipes. 53 and 64 and the make-steamfrom the pipes 55 and 63 and effecting an air purge by admitting air atthe tops of the twin generatorsSU and 60 for a few seconds through, thebranch ducts 56 and 55 before the stack control valve 13 is opened, andthe generator oil burner pipe 54 and the carburetor oil burner pipe areturned on to commence the heating portion of the next cycle.

An important economy may be effected by us ing a cheaper grade of 011,if available, for heating for the blast than the oil which is used forgenerating the composite oil gas.

When carrying out the above cycle of operations to malie the compositereformed oil gas,

a close control of the blast, heat oil, and temperatures, and a closecontrol of the make-steam,

make-oil, and the purge steam are maintained.

By the above-described process of making a composite reformed oil gasthe oil is subjected to a single stage of cracking, which procedure cutsdown the producton of hydrogen and the production of carbon which areundesirable constitutents in a gas which is designed to have thecharacteristics of natural gas.

By way of illustration, the cycle'for the use of a standard 3-shell11-foot reconstructed carburetted water gas set for working the improvedinstant processes therein by a twin-generator used thereof with acertain grade of make-gas oil is as follows, bearing in mind that 2.4seconds, or .04 minute, equals 1% of the entire time cycle, and alsoreferring to Figure 2 of the'accompanying drawings. This converted11-foot carburetted I water'gas set has twin-generator shells and asuperheater shell each about nine feet inside diameter of fire-bricklinings, and the twin-generator shells are each about seventeen feethigh superheater shell is about thirty one feet high.

The set is started up and initially operated and brought to permanentsatisfactory operating condition by such manually controlledconditioning procedures as are deemed advisable, whereby satisfactoryheats are made in about 137 seconds from the time of opening the valvesof the heatoil pipes 54 and B5 to the closing of said valves. such heatsbeing about a maximum of 1750 F. in the twin-generators 50 and 60, andabout .1600" F. in the superheater 10. These temperatures will vary withthe grade of oil used and the location of the thermocouples 52. The oilburners: and

" greats a f'thrown onto and operated by a well-known 7-- valveautomatic control, which is timed to make a complete cycle in about fourminutes, of which cycle 63 or, about 151 seconds, is an air purge A and.heat period, and 37%, or about 89 seconds,

is a make period.

About [2 seconds of the so-called heat period is first consumed for ashort blow-run air purge of the gas made by the make-run period of thepreceding cycle and'is effected by opening the top blast branch conduits55 and 55 before the stack valve 13 is opened. Then about I51 seconds isconsumed by the heating effected from the oil heat pipes 54 and 65. Theburner steam pipes 54 and 65 are also open during the heatingefiected bythe burner pipes 54 and 65. In fact, these burner steam pipes 54 and 55are open during the whole 4-minute cycle. During the four minute cyclecovering both the heat period and the make period, the oil heatingburner pipes 54' and 65 each are supplied with .this burner steam fromthe pipes 54 and 65 at about 15 lbs.

per minute or what is proper for burning the grade and'quantity. of heatoilused so that the two burner pipes are furnished during the entirefour minute cycle with about 120 lbs. of heat steam.

The sequence of the operations incident to heating, which sequence iseffected by three of the control valves of the 'l-valve automaticcontrol, is as follows:

The two top blast valves 51 and 6| controlling the branch .air pipes 56and 56 are opened for passage of air at the rate 01' about 10,000 0. F.M. for the two branches 56 and 58 constituting a blow-run -air purge forabout twelve seconds. Although this part of the cycle produces run oilgases, it is considered a part of the heating period because the gasesproduced are simply a residue of the gases made during the previous'runperiod and are collected by this blowerun air The stack valve 73 is thenopened and the two oil heat burner pipes 54 and 65 are opened, the twoburners consuming about 10.4 gallons of oil per minute, the air steppingup automatically to about 16,000 0. F. M. incidentto the opening of thestack valve;

After a heating period of about 137 seconds,

the heat burner pipes 54 and 65 are shut 011;

Then the valves 51 and GI to the branch air pipes 56 and 56 are closed;and finally l The stackwalve I3 is closed.

- The above-described heating procedure effects a maximum temperature ofabout 1750 F. in the twin-generators 50 and 50, and about 1600 F. in thesuperheater 10, using heating oil either of gas oil grade, 32 to 36gravity, or a heavier oil for economy, if available, and supplied at therate and over the period of time mentioned. v

The burner steam pipes 54 and 65 which are open throughout the wholefour minute cycle and are adjusted for the grade and quantity of oil 0,new furnished in about 137 seconds to: heat- The make periodcomprisesthe following oper ations in sequence: I v Theprocess steamlines 55 and 63 are opened for about 1.44 minutes to pass about 150 lbs.

steam per minute for the two pipes;

The process oil pipes 53 and 64 are opened to sprays;

, These process steam and process oil pipes are opened in, quicksuccession; l

The blower turbine is immediately slowed down j to idling speed to savesteamuntil just before the process oil pipes 53' and 64 are closed, whenit is again speeded up to be ready for the next blow-run or heat period.

Then the process oil pipes 53 and 04 are closed; The live steam purgepipes 53 and 54 of the make-oil sprays are opened for about sevenseconds;

The live steam purge pipes 53 and 54 are closed; and

Then the process'steam pipes 55 and 83 are closed. During theafore-described make-gas part of the cycle, by using gas oil of 32 to-36gravity for the make-oil, supplied at the rate noted, the temperature inthe twin-generators 50 and 50 falls to about 1550 F., the temperature atthe bottom of the superheater I0 falls to about 1450 F., and

remains fairly constant. The use of other grades of make-oil and/ orsupplied at other rates would vary the period of time during which thetemperature would fall to a degree not satisfactory for oil-cracking,oil-particle evaporating, blending, and reforming; as also, thetemperatures at which'such unsatisfactory results would be obtained fromthe use of such other grades of makeoil. 1

During the make period, the process steam is on for about 1.44 minutes,at 75 lbs. per minute for each of the pipes and 63, representing a totalof 216 lbs. During the whole of the four minute cycle the burner steamfurnished by the pipes 54 and 65 has been on at about the rate of w 30lbs. per minute for the two pipes, representing a feeding of 120 lbs.Therefore, the total burner 50 and process steam supplied is about 336'lbs.

The oil sprays areon for about 1.32 minutes, at 56.5 G. P. M. for eachof the pipes 53 and 64, representing the consumption of a total of 149.2gallons of oil. The degree and extent of crack- 55 ing of the make-oilefiected in the generator is dependent upon both the temperature of thegenerator and the period of time that the oil and the oil vapors and oilgas derived therefrom, remain in the generator. This period of time will6 be termed residence time and it varies inversely with the oilinjection rate and directly with the size or volume of the generator.

- The above sequence ofoperations for the make period is automaticallyeffected by the remaining 6 four control valves of the 7-valve automaticcontrol.

The gas make per cycle of the aforegoing operations is about 14,000 0.F., or at the rate of 210,000 C. F. per hour.

The consumption of heat oil per 1000 feet of make-gas is about 1.70gallons, and the consumption of make-oil per 1000 feet of make-gas isabout 10.66 gallons, total oil per 1000 feet of gas 12.36 gallons.

The consumption of heat steam per 1000 ,C. F.

pass about 113 gallons-per minute for the two the temperature at the topof the superheater l0 ffeet of make gas, total steam 24.00 lbs.

I 1000 C. F. of make gas.

gravity is about .66.

- sh m of make gas is about 8.57 lbs, and the consump tionof' processsteam is about 15.43 lbs. per 1000 The consumption ofair is about 2764c. F. per' of operations is about 1000,

The amount of tar produced is from one'and one-half to two gallons per1000 C; F. of gas and has about the consistency of coal tar.

When it is noted that the gas'making set is opcrating satisfactorily,the blast air, the burner steam, the heat oil, the process steam, andthe make oil can be slowly increased above the amounts above givenprovided no excessive back pressure is experienced during the makeperiod.

The following are analyses of composite reformed oil gases which havebeen produced by the described process, these gases having acomparatively high methane content with comparatively low contents ofhydrogen, and illuminants, and are well fixed and stable, all conditionswhich are most suitable for an oil gas which shall serve as a.satisfactory substitute for natural gasfor use in burners adjusted forconsuming the latter Per cent Carbon dioxide 1.1 Oxygen 1.0 Nitrogen 4.0Hydrogen 24.2 Carbonmonoxide 2.6 Methane 43.8 Ethylene 16.4 Ethane 2.2Propylene 1 1.1 Propane and heaviers 3.6

Total 100.00

Calculated B. t. u Y 977 Specific gravity/n--. .633

1 Make up illuminants.

, Per cent CO N, .88 Ill. 22.45 -.L 1.18 002 1.62 Hz 22.90 CH4 andCzI-Ie 42.70 N2 8.27

Total 100.00

Calculated B. t. ii. 1000 Specific gravity .66

The analysis of a specific oil gas made by the instant process willdepend upon the grade of make oil used and the particular thermal valuetwenty hours daily when a solid fuel is used inthe generatorior heatingthe checkerbrick.

What I claim is: 1. A cyclic process for making oil gas havingapproximately the same characteristics as natural gas with respect to B.t. u. heating. alue and burning, comprising heating a checkerbrickstructure contained in at least one generating zone by burning blast-airand heat oil in said structure and passing the combustion products intoand through a checkerbrick structure contained in a superheating zone,the heating of the structure in eachgenerating zone being to atemperature of from about 1500" F. to about 1800 F. and of the structurein said superheating zone to a temperatureof from about 1450" F. toabout 1650 F., then introducing steam into eachgenerating zone andpassing the same through the structure therein and through the structurein the superheating zone, and then in quick succession introducing makeoil with the steam into each generating zone and passing the mixture ofsteam and make oil through the structure therein and through thestructure in the superheating zone. the make oil being introduced at arate which provides substantially the same residence time andextent ofcracking as when 56.5 gallons .of gas oil per minute are introduced intoan oil gas generating zone containing checkerbrick heated as definedabove andhaving the capacity of a generating zone having a height ofabout 17 feet and an internal diameter of about 9 feet, wherebysubstantially no carbon is formed while producing reformed oil gas in asteam atmosphere, and finally purg'ing the structures and repeating thecycle.

2. A cyclic process as claimed in claim 1 in which the introduction ofmake 011 is continued until the temperature in each generating zone hasfallen not more than. about 200 F.

3. A process as claimed in claim 1 in which the checkerbrick structurein each generating zone is heated to a temperature of about 1750 F. and

the checkerbrick structure in said superheating zone is heated to atemperature of about 1600 F.

and in which the introduction of said steam. and,

. make 011 is continued until the temperature in each enerating zone hasfallen to about 1550 F. 4. A cyclic process as claimed in ,claim 1wherein the make oil has a gravity of from about 32 to about 36.

5. A cyclic process for making oil gas having approximately the samecharacteristics as natural desired. This thermal value is usually about1000,

and can be regulated by varying the temperature of the checkerbrick atthe beginning of the run period, and/or by varying the rate of injectionof.

store-described twin generator method of using it. Also, all labor forcharging generators, and clinkering is eliminated, whereby the set canbe run twenty-four hours daily instead of the about gas with respect toB. t. u. heating value and burning, comprising heating a checkerbrickstructure contained in at least one generating zone, each zone having aheight of about 17 feet and an internal diameter of about 9 feet, byburning blast air and heat oil in said structure and passing the,combustion products into and through a checkerbrick structure containedin a superheating zone, the heating of said structure in each generatingzone being to a temperature of about 1750 F. and of the structure insaid superheating zone to a temperature of about 1600 F., thenintroducing steam into each generating zone and passing the same throughthe structure therein and through the structure in the superheatingzone, and then in quick succession introducing gas oil of from about 32to about 36 gravity at the rate of about 56.5 gallons per minute withthe steam into each generating zone and passing the mixture of steam andgas oil through the structure therein and through the structure in thesuperheating zone, whereby substantially no carthe cycle.

a M 11 bon is formed while producing reformed oil gas in a steamatmosphere, discontinuing the introduce tion of gas oil when thetemperature of the structure in each generating zone has fallen to about1550 1'2, purging the zones, and repeating A cyclic process for makingoil gas having approximately the same charactertistics. as nateratingzone and passing the same through the structure therein and through thestructure in the superheating zone, and then in quick successionintroducing make oil with the steam into each generating zone andpassing the mixture of I steam and make oil through the structuretherein and through the structure in the superheating zone, the make oilbeing introduced at a rate which provides substantially the sameresidence timeland extent of cracking as when a total of 113 gallons ofgas oil per minute are introduced simultaneously into two oil gasgenerating zones each containing checkerbrick heated as defined above,each generating zone having the capacity of a generating 'zone having aheight of about 1'7 feet and an internal diameter of about 9 feet, andthe products passed through a superheating zone containing checkerbrickheated as defined above and having the capacity of a superheating zonehaving a height of about 31 feet and an internal diameter of about 9feet, whereby substantially no carbon is formed while producing reformedoil gas in a steam atmosphere, and finally purging the zones andrepeating the'cycle.

7. A cyclic process as claimed in claim 6 wherein the make oil isintroduced at a rate which provides, substantially the same residencetime and extent Qfcracking as when a total of 113 gallons of gas oil perminute are introduced simultaneously into two oil gas generatingzone'seach containing checkerbrick heated to about 1750: F., each generatingzone having thempacity of a generating zone having a height of about 17feet and an internal diameter of about 9 feet, and the products passedthrough a superheating zone containing checkerbrick heated to about1600F. and having the capacity of a superheating zone having a height ofabout 31 feet and an internal diameter of about 9 feet) HUGH M. BLAIN,JR.

REFEaENcEs CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date I 817,126 Lowe Apr. 3, 1906833,182 Smith Oct. '16, 1906 883,466 Lowe Mar. 31, 1908 a 1,157,225Jones Oct. 19, 1915 1,460,046 'Vuilieumier June 26, 1923 1,644,146 PikeOct. 4, 1927 1,841,201 Odell Jan. 12,1932 2,131,696 Brandegee et a1. aSept. 27, 1938 35 2,205,554 Brandegee et a1. June 25,1940

Duncan OTHER REFERENCES American Gas Practice, by J J. Morgan, second 49edition, published by J. J. Morgan, Maplewood,

New Jersey (1931) pages 580-616.

July 16, 1940 Y

1. A CYCLIC PROCESS FOR MAKING OIL GAS HAVING APPROXIMATELY THE SAMECHARACTERISTICS AS NATURAL GAS WITH RESPECT TO B. T. U. HEATING VALUEAND BURNING, COMPRISING HEATING A CHECKERBRICK STRUCTURE CONTAINED IN ATLEAST ONE GENERATING ZONE BY BURNING BLAST AIR AND HEAT OIL IN SAIDSTRUCTURE AND PASSING THE COMBUSTION PRODUCTS INTO AND THROUGH ACHECKERBRICK STRUCTURE CONTAINED IN A SUPERHEATING ZONE, THE HEATING OFTHE STRUCTURE IN EACH GENERATING ZONE BEING TO A TEMPERATURE OF FROMABOUT 1500*F. TO ABOUT 1800*F. AND OF THE STRUCTURE IN SAID SUPERHEATINGZONE TO A TEMPERATURE OF FROM ABOUT 1450*F. TO ABOUT 1650*F., THENINTRODUCING STEAM INTO EACH GENERATING ZONE AND PASSING THE SAME THROUGHTHE STRUCTURE THEREIN AND THROUGH THE STRUCTURE IN THE SUPERHEATINGZONE, AND THEN IN QUICK SUCCESSION INTRODUCING MAKE OIL WITH THE STEAMINTO EACN GENERATING ZONE AND PASSING THE MIXTURE OF STEAM AND MAKE OILTHROUGH THE STRUCTURE THEREIN AND THROUGH THE STRUCTURE IN THESUPERHEATING ZONE, THE MAKE OIL BEING INTRODUCED AT A RATE WHICHPROVIDES SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME RESIDENCE TIME AND EXTENT OF CRACKING ASWHEN 56.5 GALLONS OF GAS OIL PER MINUTE ARE INTRODUCED INTO AN OIL GASGENERATING ZONE CONTAINING CHECKERBRICK HEATED AS DEFINED ABOVE ANDHAVING THE CAPACITY OF A GENERATING ZONE HAVING A HEIGHT OF ABOUT 17FEET AND AN INTERNAL DIAMETER OF ABOUT 9 FEET, WHEREBY SUBSTANTIALLY NOCARBON IS FORMED WHILE PRODUCING REFORMED OIL GAS IN A STEAM ATMOSPHERE,AND FINALLY PURGING THE STRUCTURES AND REPEATING THE CYCLE.